Springfield’s Old Pillsbury Flour Mill Transformed

In the heart of Springfield, Illinois, a haunting specter of a once-thriving industrial force resided for over 20 years. The Pillsbury Mills, once the central cog in Springfield’s economic wheel, had become a vast, vacant husk by 2019. Its dire state was epitomized by a stray dog that had somehow clambered atop the towering grain silos, only to become a casualty of the decayed environs.

Following the tragic sight of a dead dog due to urban decay, retired fire marshal Chris Richmond, whose father had connections with the mill, was motivated to act. He co-founded the nonprofit, Moving Pillsbury Forward, with the ambitious goal of investing $10 million over five years to revitalize the abandoned, century-old factory site.

With Richmond, vice-president Polly Poskin, and secretary Tony DelGiorno at the helm, the group has already secured $6 million in pledges and made progress by dismantling two structures. Their plan for the site involves encouraging light industrial development due to its close proximity to a major railyard.

Beyond future planning, Moving Pillsbury Forward has also revitalized the present, transforming the derelict site into a popular cultural hub in the heart of Illinois’ capital. They’ve welcomed artists for nighttime graffiti exhibitions and established a museum, “Echoes of Pillsbury,” filled with artifacts from the factory’s prime, under the supervision of retired University of Illinois archeologist Robert Mazrim.

In a unique twist, the Pillsbury doughboy — the brand’s iconic mascot — could well have been conceived here, not in a Chicago ad agency as previously thought. The mill also achieved culinary fame for producing the world’s first boxed cake mixes in the post-war era. Moving Pillsbury Forward bought the property for a mere dollar and negotiated with the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive the lien for cleanup costs. Now, the task of cleaning up asbestos and lead paint remnants before tearing down the remaining 500,000 square feet of factory lies ahead.

The colossal challenge does not deter Richmond, who believes in the power of taking the first step in any journey. The group hopes to secure $2.6 million from the $1.2 billion made available for brownfields cleanup in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is four times the usual annual allocation.

Besides the tangible benefits of environmental rejuvenation and economic revitalization, the group is keen to highlight the intangible gains that would accrue to the 12,000 residents living within a mile radius of the site — particularly the 25% without a high school diploma and those with a median household income of $25,000. As Richmond and his team work to dismantle the remnants of the past, they remain dedicated to preserving its memory. They’ve collected oral histories, snapped photos, and even hosted an impromptu art exhibition featuring Minneapolis-based graffiti artists.